Jimmy Fund and Dana-Farber Favors Testimonials
These loyal Jimmy Fund and Dana-Farber supporters made their favorite cause part of their special day
Kendra Wallin
My husband, Jared, and I decided to make a contribution to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute as part of our wedding favors because we wanted to do something that was meaningful and special for our family. My grandmother and aunt have both been treated at Dana-Farber in Boston for different cancers, so it is very important to us to give back and support the organization.
Michelle Mastropietro
I got married on May 20, 2010 on the show "Losing it with Jillian Michaels." NBC offered to pay for the entire wedding, which was such a blessing to me and my family. I was researching favors, and while I was pricing them out, I was appalled at the cost for "throw away" items. My mother and I sat down, put our heads together and then it clicked, we needed to make a contribution! Since my mother, grandmother, my aunt, and I all work here at Dana-Farber, we decided it was a perfect fit! The rest just fell into place so easily! We got the template after making the gift, printed them, and they were all set to go.
Not only were these favors so easy to use, they were also so meaningful to me and my family. I had a grandfather pass away from cancer, and I felt like I was giving back. So many guests were inspired to do the same thing for their weddings in the future. They were a huge hit, and again so meaningful. I was so pleased with our decision to use these favors, and all the guests were as well. So many times you're a guest at a wedding and receive a candle, or matches, or a small frame, which are wonderful but get left behind and forgotten so easily. With these favors it was like each on of my guests were partaking in a great cause: to help in the fight against cancer!
Sandra Arribada
Cancer affects far too many people, so when I was helping plan my cousin-in-law Cindy's baby shower along with her sister Melissa Martins, who is studying to be a nurse and hopes to specialize in pediatric nursing for terminally ill children, we both decided that it would be the best type of party favor. We both had family members who have dealt with cancer and not all survived, but all fought hard and strong. In addition, Cindy's father in law had just recently passed due to cancer and we felt it was a good way to pay a small tribute to him. We used some nice stationery and framed it and placed it next to a notebook for people to sign with parenting advice to the new parents-to-be. It looked simple, clean, and classy — plus no ribbons to tie!
Nicholas Robert Martins Victorino was born healthy and strong August 9, 2010.
Mary and Paul Dion
Our daughter Jessica was just starting her sophomore year of college in California when she was diagnosed with a synovial sarcoma in her right leg. She came back to Boston and was treated at Dana-Farber in 2003 and 2004. She was blessed to be treated by Jeffrey Morgan, MD, and the very special nurses in the sarcoma area on Dana 1 (although they have moved from that location now). This past October Jessica was married to Nick, her wonderful boyfriend of 8 years who was by her side every day through chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation. She has been cancer free since 2004 and in 2007 became an oncology nurse at Brigham & Women's Hospital.
Molly Conetta
We were honored to choose Dana-Farber as the recipient of our wedding favor money this summer. Cancer is something that hits very close to home for us. We chose Dana-Farber for so many reasons! Breast cancer is a cause that is near to my heart, having lost my mom to breast cancer when I was 2 years old and she was just 28. In my mom's honor, I have participated in a 40 mile walk for breast cancer every year. For the past two years, my now husband, Jason, has been at the finish line to cheer me on for the last few steps of that 40 mile journey. In May 2009, he decided to participate in the event with me. Collectively, we raised more than $4,000. The entire weekend was full of inspiring moments that we were able to share together. As we crossed the finish line, Jason got down on one knee in front of my friends, family, and thousands of strangers and asked me to marry him. He wanted to make sure my mom was a part of this amazing milestone in our lives. Every time I look at my ring, I remember that wonderful moment when Jason made me the happiest women in the world! We wanted a way to honor my mom on our wedding day, and make sure that the money was going to a good cause. I also receive preventative care at Dana-Farber and feel very fortunate to be cared for at such an inspiring place. There are many reasons why we chose Dana-Farber, and I am so glad that we did!
Andrew Patmos
Instead of the traditional wedding favors my wife and I decided to give to the Jimmy Fund.
Cancer has directly affected both my wife's and my family. For this reason, when we were planning our wedding, we felt it was appropriate to give to the Jimmy Fund in lieu of a traditional favors. We were actually surprised and pleased at how many of our guests commented on and appreciated the gift.
Putting everything together was fairly easy as well. I was able to make the contribution by phone and choose what areas of patient care or research the money would be used. Then, I was emailed some templates to make the favors. Using these, some graphics from the internet, and MS Paint I was able to make place cards for each of our guests that matched our wedding theme.
Steven and Lindsay Tashjian
Wedding favors often wind up in the closet when guests return home, but Steven and Lindsay Tashjian made sure that what went on their tables served a much greater purpose: Helping the people who saved Steve's life do the same for other children and adults.
Read more about the Tashjians' story
